Acording to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., Special Action Force (SAF) commandos caught up with an Abu Sayyaf unit believed to be aiding foreign militants from the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group in Maimbung town on Jolo Island, triggering the fighting.

He said intelligence reports suggested that the Abu Sayyaf gunmen were protecting Marwan, a Malaysian-born member of the JI believed to be responsible for honing the Abu Sayyaf’s bombing techniques.

“They were able to neutralize (kill) Gafur and two other unidentified (Abu Sayyaf) members,” Cruz said, referring to Gafur Jumdail..... MORE